The Lone Star Showdown Presented by the Houston Outlaws and Dallas Fuel

The Houston Outlaws and the Dallas Fuel have always had an intense rivalry in the Overwatch Leagues’ first three seasons. Regional rivalries are one of the biggest draws for geo-located franchise teams. The Battle for Texas is upping the stakes as the Lone Star Showdown takes this rivalry to the next level. The two Overwatch League teams are pairing up to throw down in a way no one in the league has. They’re inviting everyone to have a front-row seat to the show and a backstage pass to the drama.

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Lone Star Showdown

The first annual Lone Star Showdown will feature a unique competition between the Houston Outlaws and the Dallas Fuel. Over a three week period, these teams will compete in three separate competitions. Those include; a series of one-vs-one bouts, three-vs-three matches, and a traditional 6-vs-6 grudge match. All three weeks of competition will take place on the Overwatch League YouTube Channel. The Lone Star Showdown aims to expose a wider range of non-traditional esports fans to the world of Overwatch. In partnership with Tegna, there will also be three weekly broadcast television shows. This 3 part docu-series will follow the results of the weekly competition and showcase behind the scenes action with players and coaches. Episodes will air on Saturday starting May 9th and running through May 23rd. “We are thrilled to be partnering with the Dallas Fuel and Tegna’s Texas Stations during this Pandemic to bring fresh sports competition and entertainment back to our fans and TV viewers. Video gaming is hotter than ever and professional esports are taking center stage this month in Texas with the 1st Annual LoneStar Showdown. New fans can expect a battle worthy of champions,” says Lori Burgess COO of Beasley Esports and the Houston Outlaws. Blizzard Entertainment and the Overwatch League seek to capture the same magic that traditional sports does within the mainstream. The Geo-located Franchise model was the beginning and the homestand games were part two of that plan.

Coming Together

With the Covid-19 Pandemic impacting industries all over the world everyone needs to innovate. The Houston Outlaws and Dallas Fuel are looking for new ways to engage fans on all fronts. Burgess says, “The Covid-19 Pandemic has forced franchises like ours to collaborate to foster a first-time-ever streaming and TV experience for Texans.” Esports are fortunate that their online nature allows them to tackle the challenge of quarantine and still bring content to fans. All other traditional sports have completely shut down and even they’re looking to esports for ways to engage their audience. An event like this is not without its own challenges. The interviews conducted with players and coaches still have to keep safety guidelines in mind to protect those involved. Interviews were done online, filmed with GoPro cameras from the safety of players’ homes. Former Outlaws DPS player turned Overwatch League Caster Jake Lyon will be handling the narration for the docu-series. When asked about the importance of events and coverage such as this Jake said, “I think the Lone Star Showdown is a great opportunity for fans to better get to know and connect with the players they cheer for. This type of personal content is something I always appreciate in esports because it highlights the human realities of our shared passion.” The series will be aired on 12 Tenga stations in the state of Texas. The Docu-series will be available online after the television broadcasts at the websites for the Houston Outlaws and Dallas Fuel.

Esports is Ready

The Lone Star Showdown aims to elevate esports and its narratives to a level seen normally only seen in sports. It’s something esports as a whole has struggled to do effectively. It’s the perfect time for the Houston Outlaws and the Dallas Fuel to put themselves at center stage. The COVID-19 pandemic has ground traditional sports to a halt. The Lone Star Showdown, the Overwatch League, and all of esports offer fans and families the opportunity to fully engage with teams and players from the safety of their own homes.

The full schedule for the Lone Star Showdown is…

• One-vs-One competition on Overwatch League YouTube , Monday, May 4th.
• Three-vs-Three competition on Overwatch League YouTube , Monday, May 11th.
• Traditional 6-vs-6 competition on Overwatch League YouTube, Monday, May 18th.

Broadcasts will be across the entire state of Texas via 12 stations from Noon to 1 pm starting on Saturday, May 9th. Part two and part three will air at the same time on Saturday, May 19th and Saturday, May 23rd. Note: CheckpointXP is owned by the same parent company as the Houston Outlaws, the Beasley Media Group.

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